Artificial Intelligence Adoption in MSMEs: A Comparative Analysis of Mexico and Chile

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-779-8_10How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence; MSMEs; Digital Transformation; Institutional Governance; Innovation Ecosystems; Latin America

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a strategic resource for enhancing competitiveness, innovation, and digital transformation among Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). However, significant differences in AI adoption persist across Latin American countries, and comparative evidence explaining the institutional, technological, and organizational factors underlying these disparities remains limited. This study aims to comparatively analyze the factors influencing AI adoption among MSMEs in Mexico and Chile. A qualitative comparative documentary research design was employed based on the systematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and official government publications. Documentary evidence was examined through qualitative content analysis, source triangulation, and a comparative analytical framework integrating seven dimensions related to AI adoption. The findings indicate that Chile has achieved a more mature AI adoption process through coherent public policies, coordinated institutional governance, and stronger innovation ecosystems, whereas Mexico has developed greater technological infrastructure and private investment but continues to face fragmented institutional coordination, heterogeneous digital maturity, and organizational capability constraints. The comparative analysis demonstrates that technological infrastructure alone is insufficient to accelerate AI adoption. Instead, successful implementation depends on the interaction among governance, organizational capabilities, human capital, financial accessibility, and collaborative innovation ecosystems. The study contributes by proposing an integrated comparative framework that advances the understanding of AI adoption in emerging economies while providing evidence to support public policy design and strategic decision-making aimed at strengthening the digital competitiveness of MSMEs throughout Latin America.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this license to share adapted material derived from this chapter or parts of it.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Bianca J. López Campillo
AU  - Rocío Villalón Cañas
AU  - Blanca E.Bernal Escoto
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/06
TI  - Artificial Intelligence Adoption in MSMEs: A Comparative Analysis of Mexico and Chile
BT  - Proceedings of the International Congress on Competitiveness and Development of MSMEs 2026 (ICCD-MSMEs 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 158
EP  - 177
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-779-8_10
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-779-8_10
ID  - Campillo2026
ER  -